Ceiling illuminating system



Aug. 30, 1960 J. M. GILBERT CEILING ILLUMINATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 27, 1959 INVENTOR.

dnnc's M. GILBEQI' BY WM Aug. 30, 1960 J. M. GILBERT CEILING ILLUMINATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1959 INVENTOR. James /7. Guam?- Tii.4.v

Unite 1 CEILING ILLUMINATING SYSTEM This invention relates generally to interior illumination or-lighting, and is especially concerned with luminousceiling-type interior lighting.

As is well-known-to those versed in illumination engineering, recent research has resulted in increased recommended levels of illumination for many applications. Thus, to obtain the recommended levels of illumination, it-isnecessary to provide greater foot-candles in the same cubic-space without undue concentration of light sources. Toward this end various types of luminous ceilings have been proposed, but. such constructions have been subject -'to certain disadvantages, such as requirements of excessive freeor clear space beneath the room ceiling, andbeing relatively inflexible in obtaining uniform distribution of the desired intensity under a wide variety of conditions.-

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present inventionto provide an illumination system which overcomes the above-mentioned difliculties, requiring relatively little space-beneaththe room ceiling, being extremely flexible and versatile inobtaining uniform distribution of the desired intensity illumination under widely varying conditions, and which is highly efficient in its use of avail able light;

It isa further object of the present invention toprovide-amilluminating system of the type described which is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable iriruseyeasy to install and maintain, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other'objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and refe'rring 'to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements ofparts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafterdescribed, and of which the scope will be indicated 'by'the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating an illumination system of the present invention from beneath;

Fig; 2 is a bottom plan view illustrating one arrangementof a plurality'of units of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view showing another arrangement of the illuminating system of the instant invention;

Fig; '4 is an end elevational view of the device of Fig. 1, showing the suspension means therefor;

Fig: 5 is a partial top perspective view, showing a structure similar to that of Fig. 1 in greater detail, partly broken away for clarity of illustration, and showing additional structure in phantom; and

. Fig, 6 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially alongthe line 66 of Fig. 5.

R'eferringinow more particularly to the drawings, and specificallyto Fig. 1 thereof, there is illustrated therein an illumination unit generally designated 10 which includes a pair of laterally spaced, generally coplanar, horizontal tates Patent 0 r 2,951,147 Patented Aug- 1960 ing',':parallel:spaced side members 15, and apair of later? ally extending, generally parallel end members 16 each of which extends between an adjacent pair of ends of said side members. Each frame 11 is thus open in the central region between the side members 15 and end members 16, such opening being designated 17 in Fig. 5. Extending entirely-aboutthe central opening 17 of each rectangular frame 11, interiorly thereof so as to bound the opening, is a flange 18, which may be formed of suitable angle stock 19. This is, the anglestock 19 extends interiorly about the central opening 17 of each frame 11, being secured to the side .and end members thereof by suitable fasteners 20, and has its flange 18 projecting into the frame, opening. Midway between thefends of each frame 11, there may be provided an inverted bar 21 of T-shaped .cross section extending laterally between and having. its. opposite ends secured, as by fasteners 22, to respective side members 15. The flanges of the inverted T-shaped bar may be substantially coplanar with the flange 18 of; the angle stock 19.

Each of the side members .15 may be fabricated of a pair ofhorizontally extending, generally vertically disposed, laterally spaced-apart side walls 23 having inturned upper; and lower flanges 24 and. 25 longitudinally coextensive therewith. The vertical side walls 23 maybe rigidly securedtogether by any suitable means, as bytransverse spacers; or tie rods (not shown) and have their ends .secured together by-the endframe members '16, as will appear presently. Thus, the side members 15 are each providedwith a hollow interior 26, between the side walls 23, and are vertically open upward between the upper flanges 24, and downward between the lower flanges 25, the hollow interior thus communicating vertically upward and downward with the exterior of the side members.

Interiorly of each side member 15, carried on opposite sidewalls 23, are a pair of lightrdefiecting elements 27. Each such light-deflecting element 27 is formedof an elongate sheetor strip extending longitudinally along the inner surface-of its respective side. wall 23 in the upper region thereof,--and formed with a longitudinally extending central bend 28 to define a pair of obliquely disposed walls 29 and 30 on opposite sides of the bend. The longitudinal margins of the sheet or strip 27 are fixed to the respective side wall 23, by any suitable securing means,-thus permanently locating the wall 29 with one surface facing into the interior hollow v26 of the side member 15 and obliquely upward toward the upper side thereof, while the wall .30 faces interiorly of the hollow 26 and obliquely downward toward the underside of the side member. The lightdeflecting elements or strips 27 of eachside member are preferably located in directlyopposed relation with respect to each other.

Each of the end members 16 extends between and substantially normal to a pair of side members 15 at an adjacent pair of ends thereof. In particular, each end member includes a generally tubular spacer element-'31 extending between and having its opposite ends fixedly secured in end abutment with inner or adjacent side walls 23 ofan adjacent pair of side members 15. Eachv end member 16 further includes a tubular outer element 32 extending longitudinally along and secured fast to-the inner element 31 but located outward of the ends of the side members 15 and extending in closing relation with respect to the latter. That is, the outer element 32 of each end member 16 is fixedly secured to the side mem bers ;15,and extends across the adjacent ends thereof to closethe latter.- The .end members 16 may be secured fast to the side members 15 by any suitable securing means, as desired. Carried interiorly of the end members 16 are the necessary electrical components, including wiring and the like; and, lamp sockets 33 are fixed to the outer elements 32 opening into the hollow interior of the side members 15 for supporting lamps 34.

Extending generally horizontally across the underside of each frame side member 15 is a generally horizontal, openwork grille or light diffuser 36, being removably supported in position by the lower side-wall flanges 25. Similar openwork grilles 37 are arranged horizontally to extend across the opening 17 between the side members 15 and end members 16, each grille or light diffuser 37 removably resting upon the flanges 18 and 21. The openwork grilles or light diffusers 36 and 37 are preferably fabricated of plastic, and may be of any desired color, for purposes appearing presently.

As may be seen in Fig. 5, the end members 16, and particularly the outer element 32 of each end member may be provided with a pair of vertically upwardly extending rods or supporting elements 39 adapted for connection at their upper ends by a mounting bracket 38 (see Fig. 4) to a ceiling 40, or the like, for suspending the frame 11 in spaced relation beneath the ceiling. Also, if desired, an additional and similar frame 11a (shown in phantom in Fig. may be arranged in end-to-end relation with respect to the frame 11, including side members a and end members 16a. It may be noted that the side members 15a are in substantial longitudinal alignment with the side members 15, while the end members 16a are in substantial parallelism with the end members 16. Further, a single outer end element 32 may be common to an adjacent pair of end members 16 and 16a. This arrangement illustrates a convenient, economical, and eflicient end-to-end disposition of frames 11 and 11a.

In addition, a pair of frames 11 may be arranged in generally horizontal, side-by-side spaced relation by the provision of transverse, spacing end members 12, as seen in Fig. 1. Each of the end spacer sections 12 includes an inner tubular element 41 extending transversely between the adjacent ends of adjacent side members 15 and having its ends fixedly secured to the adjacent side members. The tubular inner spacer elements 41 may be substantially identical to the inner frame end elements 31. Each end spacer section further includes an outer tubular element 42 extending longitudinally along and secured fast to the inner element 41, and in substantial longitudinal alignment with the adjacent outer end element 32. The outer spacer end element 42 may be secured fast in its end'to-end aligned relation with an adjacent outer end element 32 by any suitable means, or may be formed integral with the latter, if desired.

As may be observed in Fig. l, with the rectangular, horizontal frames 11 disposed in side-by-side spaced relation, and connected together at their ends by laterally extending spacer sections 12, the adjacent side members 15 of the frames and the end sections 12 combine to define a generally rectangular area or opening therebetween, as at 43 in Fig. 5. Angle stock 19 extends interiorly about the opening 43, in the same manner as described hereinbefore in connection with the openings 17, having one flange secured, as by fasteners 20, to the bounding side members 15 and end spacer sections 411, with its other flange 18 extending generally horizontally into the opening 43. Medially between the end spacer sections 12,

extending laterally between adjacent side members 15, is an inverted T-shaped bar 21 having horizontal flanges substantially coplanar with the flanges 18. This bar subdivides the opening 43; and, openwork grilles or light diffusers 45 may be removably arranged horizontally within the opening 43, each being supported about its peripheral margin on the flanges of bar stock 19 and 21.

From the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that each of the side members 15 of the unit 10 is adapted to carry interiorly thereof an illuminating lamp 34; and, by

virtue of the light-deflecting elements 27, and their location and shape, selected percentages of radiation from the lamps may be deflected upward and downward through the open upper and lower sides of the side mem- 5 bers. The radiation thus deflected downward will pass through and be diffused by the grilles 36, while the radiation thus deflected upward will reflect from the ceiling and pass downward through the spaces between the side frame members 15, namely the open regions 17 and 43. This appropriate proportioning of the frames 11 and the spacing between the frames, all with respect to the proportions of radiation deflected upward and downward from the lamps 34, it is understood that a highly uniform downward radiation of light may be achieved under the widely varying conditions of different installations, all with the use of relatively few standard parts. More particularly, with standard frames 11, a highly uniform distribution of radiation may be achieved under widely varying conditions of installation by merely selecting the appropriate end spacer sections 12 to properly space apart adjacent frames 11.

One arrangement for installation is illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein are shown a pair of spaced units 50 each comprising a unit 10 as disclosed hereinbefore, and a similar unit 1dr: joined to the unit 10 in aligned end-to-end relation therewith. The unit 10a may be substantially identical to the unit 10, and the units are joined together at their adjacent ends by common outer-end elements 32 and 42, so that the unit ltia corresponds to the phantom structure illustrated in Fig. 5. A pair of units 50 arranged in end-to-end spaced, longitudinally aligned relation, as shown in Fig. 2, has been found a highly practical arrangement.

Another practical arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein a unit 51 is fabricated of a plurality of frames 11 arranged in side-by-side spaced relation and joined together by end spacer sections 12. An additional group of frames 11b are arranged in side-by-side spaced relation and joined together by end spacer sections 12b. The frames 11 are located in end-to-end contiguous relation with the frames 11b, respectively, and rigidly joined together by a common outer-end element 32b. Here again, a highly uniform distribution of light radiation may be achieved by proper selection of end spacer sections 12 and 12b with regard to the conditions of installation.

As noted hereinbefore, it may be preferred that the openwork light diffusers be of decorative colors, which may achieve a variety of esthetic effects without actually coloring the light. a

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides a lighting system which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, installation and use.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been set forth in the drawings and description, they are used for illustrative purposes and not in way of limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. An illumination system comprising a generally rectangular open frame including side and end members and adapted to be suspended horizontally beneath a ceiling, each said side member having spaced generally parallel vertical walls defining a hollow member opening vertically upwardly and downwardly, the distance between the inner walls of said side members being substantially greater than the distance between the walls of each side member, means for mounting a lamp in each side member to radi ate light upwardly and downwardly from the respective side member, said side members and said end members having inwardly extending flange members, a first light diffuser extending across said frame between said side and end members for diffusing light reflected downwardly from the ceiling and supported by said flanges, and additional light diffusers each extending across the underside of a respective side member to diffuse light radiated downwardly.

2. An illumination system according to claim 1, said diffusers each comprising a grille of egg-crate configuration.

3. An illumination system according to claim 1, in combination with light-deflecting means in each of said side members to deflect a selected ratio of lamp radiation upwardly and downwardly, to thereby provide a desired ratio between direct light diffused through said additional pair of dififusers and indirect light diflused through said first diffuser.

4. An illuminating system comprising a plurality of generally rectangular open frames adapted to be suspended in generally horizontal spaced coplanar relation beneath a ceiling, each of said frames including side and end members defining an opening therebetween, each of said side members being interior'ly hollow and having spaced generally parallel vertical side walls and opening vertically upwardly and downwardly, the distance between successive side members of said illuminating system being substantially the same and being substantially greater than the distance between the side walls of a respective side member, means for mounting a lamp interiorly of each side member to radiate light upwardly and downwardly from the respective side member, respective end walls of respective frames being alined, said system also comprising auxiliary end members connecting said aforementioned aligned end members, said end members and said respective side walls of said side members having respective horizontal flanges, a plurality of light dilfusers respectively extending across said frames between said side and end members and across the space bet-ween said frames between said side and auxiliary end members and mounted upon said flanges, and additional diffusers extending across the underside of each of said side members to diffuse light radiated downwardly from said lamps.

5. An illuminating system according to claim 4, said illuminating system also comprising light deflecting means located interiorly of each said side member to deflect selected percentages of lamp radiation upwardly and downwardly, the openings of said frames and the spaces between said frames being proportioned to pass radiation reflected downwardly from the ceiling at a desired intensity.

References @ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,280,534 Masterson et al Apr. 21, 1942 2,306,700 Kantack Dec. 29, 1942 2,621,285 Nitardy Dec. 9, 1952 2,645,708 Marchisio July 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 545,358 Great Britain May 21, 1942 

